Dr. Frank Sloth leaned back in his chair. His hands folded, he surveyed the
construction of the super ray that would render Neopia helpless underneath
his wrath. He smiled, soon he would have all the Neopets as his slaves...

"Sir, I have bad news. The ray is not operational, and we cannot locate the
problem!"

Dr. Sloth stood up angrily. "This is an outrage! You said that your Grundos
would have it finished by now!"

The Grundo wilted under Sloth's glare. "I'm terribly sorry sir, but this was
beyond our control. I have reason to believe that the ray was deactivated by
the enemy..."

Just then, a band of cheering Neopets charged through the room and into the
escape pods. Led by a Grarrl, the pets were the ones who had terminated the
ray.

Sloth sat back down, there was no point in chasing them. He ran his fingers
through his greying antennae. It wasn't that easy being an evil genius of crime.

He glanced back at the Grundo. "Tell Captain Flurp that I have need of him,
I want him to accompany me on secret mission."

The Grundo bowed. "Yes, sir."

Soon the Grundo had returned with Flurp, a shadowed Grundo. He was Sloth's
most trusted advisor, so he had been distinguished from the other Grundo with
a special colour. He bowed low in front of Sloth, then quietly stood up, facing
his master. "What is your bidding, lord Sloth?"

Sloth smiled. "I want you to accompany me on a visit to Neopia. I need you
to pose as my... pet."

Whatever Flurp was expecting, it wasn't that. "Uh, master, I do not understand
the purpose of this mission..."

Sloth bared his yellowing teeth. "Are you questioning my authority?"

Flurp gulped. "No, master."

"Good. Go prepare yourself for our journey to Neopia, and put this on." Sloth
threw him a studded collar. "I want you to look convincing."

After Flurp left, Sloth swiveled around his chair, and faced the stars. He
smiled blissfully. "Ahh... This will do me good. I was in need of a vacation!"

***

Sloth and Flurp boarded a shuttle, it was going to take them to the outskirts
of Tyrannia, where they would catch a bus to mystery island. Flurp looked very
depressed in his studded collar and rather ugly red bandanna, while Sloth looked
quite ridiculous in his rubber "owner mask" and suit. To hide his green skin,
he had put on thick gardening gloves, and the result made him look like the
weirdest owner in the world.

By now, Flurp new that their "mission" was actually just a holiday for Sloth,
and that in order to disband any suspicion, Flurp had to be dragged along to
pretend to be Sloth's "pet."

The shuttle was quick to arrive in Tyrannia, and soon Sloth and Flurp were
making their way to the bus stop, attracting allot of attention as they passed.

"Master, I do believe that we are arousing some suspicion."

"Nonsense. All those people are probably only looking at us because they are
secretly complimenting my good taste in attire," said Sloth, straightening
his pork pie hat.

Flurp sighed, he had never felt so humiliated. When they got on the bus, they
were given a wide berth by the other passengers. Sloth considered this to be
some form of gift.

"Why look! They're giving us more legroom," said Sloth.

Flurp just mumbled something. The bus ride passed uneventfully, and soon they
were on mystery isle, and the beach.

The beach was very empty. There were only a few people on the beach. Two Bruces
and their owner, a disco Acara, a Shoyru and a sunbathing Peophin. And of course,
a lifeguard.

The lifeguard's name was minnie, and she was a purple Kyrii with a nose for
trouble. As soon as Sloth and Flurp stepped onto the beach, she smelled trouble!
She made a mental note to keep an eye on those two, as the owner's face seemed
to be falling off.

Sloth laid down a beach towel, it was a simple, blue colour. He decided to
leave his towel with the picture of Neopia in his hand at home, he didn't want
to attract any authorities. Flurp plunked miserably down beside him, morosely
picking at the sand.

Sloth lay down on the towel and closed his eyes, unaware of the affects that
the hot sun were having on his mask...

Now, minnie had been watching Sloth the whole time, and had come to two conclusions.
Either this guy was a really lousy owner or he was an evil emperor. Either way,
Minnie had to go and make sure that he wasn't causing any trouble. Minnie grinned,
yelling at rule breakers was her favourite pastime. She swaggered up to Sloth,
who was fast asleep, and looked at Flurp.

"What's your name, little Grundo?"

Flurp looked down at the sand, choosing to make up a name. "Uh... Flurt."
Oh great fake name, he thought angrily to himself.

Minnie glanced at Sloth. "Shouldn't you tell your owner that his face is melting?"

"AhHA!" Minnie screeched. "I knew it! You're Dr. Sloth, the most hated guy
in the universe, enslaver of Grundos, impersonator of owners and the harbinger
of doom for all Neopia! Well I only have one thing to say to YOU buster!" Minnie
stood up to her full height, about two feet.

"GET OFF MY BEACH!"

Sloth gulped and speedily left. In his hurry, he left Flurp behind. Tearing
off his collar, Flurp grinned up at Minnie.